Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027–2028 in the UK
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027–2028 is a 12-month research fellowship for mid-career professionals from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan. Hosted by the British Library in the United Kingdom, the programme supports research into Coptic manuscripts, cultural heritage, and historical collections. Selected fellows receive living expenses, return economy airfare, and financial support for fellowship-related activities. Applications close on 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
Quick Overview
Programme: Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship
Opportunity Type: Research Fellowship
Host Institution: British Library
Country: United Kingdom
Duration: 12 months
Fellowship Period: September 2027 – September 2028
Eligible Countries: Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan
Funding: Living expenses, return economy airfare, and fellowship-related allowances
Application Deadline: 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC
About the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship supports mid-career professionals who have a strong interest in Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections.
The fellowship is hosted by the British Library and co-funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and a programme partner.
The British Library holds an extensive collection of Coptic manuscripts. Its holdings include hundreds of complete and fragmentary codices, alongside papyrus, parchment, and paper fragments documenting more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology, and literary culture.
Many parts of these collections remain difficult to discover because a comprehensive overview of the holdings has not yet been produced.
The fellowship addresses this challenge by supporting research, documentation, and interpretation of the Library’s Coptic collections.
Research Supervision
The selected fellow will work closely with Dr. Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Studies (interim), to lead a research project.
The project will draw on the fellow’s language skills, subject expertise, and professional experience.
Research activities will focus on surveying manuscript holdings, improving catalogue records, investigating collection provenance, and developing opportunities for public engagement.
Research Activities and Fellowship Responsibilities
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027–2028 combines manuscript research with collections documentation and community engagement.
Fellows will contribute to several areas of the British Library’s work.
Manuscript Research and Documentation
Participants will survey the Library’s Coptic collections and identify gaps in existing cataloguing and documentation.
Their responsibilities will include:
• Examining Coptic manuscript collections.
• Creating and enhancing catalogue records using manuscript evidence and existing metadata.
• Investigating the provenance of manuscripts.
• Documenting and analysing the history and acquisition of the collections.
These activities will support improved access to the Library’s manuscript holdings.
Cultural Heritage and Community Engagement
The fellowship also supports the British Library’s work with heritage communities.
Fellows will have opportunities to:
• Organise and contribute to events involving Coptic community members and researchers.
• Develop public engagement activities related to Coptic heritage.
• Produce blogs, reports, and other research outputs.
• Contribute to new approaches for sharing knowledge about the collections.
The programme aims to improve access to Coptic manuscript heritage while developing new opportunities for collaboration between researchers and heritage communities.
Benefits and Financial Coverage
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship provides financial support for the 12-month research period.
Confirmed fellowship benefits include:
✓ A 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library.
✓ Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship.
✓ Return economy airfare.
✓ An allowance package for fellowship-related activities.
✓ Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses.
Professional and Research Benefits
In addition to financial support, fellows will gain experience in several areas of cultural heritage research and collections management.
The programme offers:
✓ Specialist experience in manuscript cataloguing, provenance research, and collections documentation.
✓ Practical experience planning and delivering community and public engagement activities.
✓ Opportunities to develop an international academic and professional profile.
✓ Experience working with the British Library’s research and cultural heritage collections.
✓ Opportunities to contribute to the future accessibility and interpretation of Coptic manuscript heritage.
Important Travel Arrangements
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office cannot assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the United Kingdom, including travel from Palestine.
Successful fellows must arrange their own travel to the UK. This may require travelling through third countries.
Eligibility Criteria
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027–2028 is intended for mid-career professionals with relevant academic or professional experience.
Applicants must satisfy the fellowship’s nationality, residency, academic, professional, and language requirements.
Nationality and Residency Requirements
Applicants must be citizens of one of the following countries:
• Egypt
• Palestine
• Sudan
Candidates should normally reside in one of these three countries.
However, citizens of these countries who reside elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region may also apply if they reside in one of the following Chevening-eligible, ODA-eligible countries:
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Morocco
• Syria
• Tunisia
• Yemen
Applicants must demonstrate a clear intention to return to and contribute to their country of citizenship after completing the fellowship.
They must return to that country for at least one year following the fellowship.
Academic and Professional Requirements
Applicants must:
• Hold a postgraduate-level qualification or possess equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area at the time of application.
• Have at least five years of significant professional and/or academic research experience.
• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate.
Applicants who are PhD candidates must not be enrolled at a university in the UK, EU, or USA.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have excellent knowledge of Coptic, specifically Sahidic or Bohairic.
Knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek is desirable.
Candidates must also have good written and spoken English and be able to communicate research findings effectively.
Research and Cultural Heritage Experience
Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience in manuscript research and cultural heritage.
The fellowship requires:
• Experience cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, including knowledge of manuscript description standards.
• Experience in provenance research and documentation, or a demonstrable interest in this area.
• Experience working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities related to cultural heritage collections.
Candidates must also meet the general Chevening Fellowship eligibility requirements.
Fellowship Duration and Research Period
The fellowship lasts 12 months and takes place at the British Library in the United Kingdom.
Start Date: September 2027
End Date: September 2028
During this period, the selected fellow will undertake project-based activities involving the Library’s Coptic manuscript holdings.
The research will contribute to collections documentation, provenance investigation, and public engagement initiatives.
Application Process
Interested candidates should review the official Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship page before submitting an application.
Applicants should complete the following preparations:
• Confirm that they meet the nationality and residency requirements.
• Review the academic and professional eligibility criteria.
• Ensure that they meet the required Coptic and English language conditions.
• Review the general Chevening Fellowship eligibility requirements.
• Read the official programme information and follow the application instructions provided by Chevening.
Applicants must complete the required application process before the official deadline.
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Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027–2028 is:
27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC
Applicants must complete the official application process by the stated deadline.
Official Link
Review the official programme details and follow the application instructions provided on the official page.
View the Official Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship Page
